Louisa's POV
"Darren was crazy," Colt said. "He tied us up and taped our mouths before barring the door. Then, he just kept driving faster and faster. I tried to stop him, but he didn't seem to care. I cut the rope open by using my pocket lighter knife. You know, it takes some time to get a knife out of it."
He flashed his eccentric lighter in his hands. He must have accidentally triggered something and a white flag popped up from it.
"Oops!" Colt said, handing the lighter in my hands. "Have it, Louisa. Keep it with you all the time. I have a feeling that you might need it more than me."
Mana and Mata continued.
"Just after Colt untied me, Young Master Leo kicked the door open and strangled Darren. And the carriage knocked into a rock and lost control."
"We were thrown out and the cart flipped off the cliff," Colt said and wiped the sweat and dirt on his face. "Then, we saw those two tuna heads holding a rope. And I was like, 'Oh gee! This can't be good!' And then we got you, just in time."
"Wait a moment," I looked around and said. "Where are Darren and Leo?"
At that exact moment, I heard Mana and Mata's voices -
"Miss! Come here! They're fighting! Fire and teeth and everything!"
"You need to stop them before any of them get killed!"
I charged towards their voices and saw a giant white wolf fighting against Darren.
It's Leo's wolf! The last time I saw him, he was just arm's length. But now, he's all jacked up. I thought to myself.
Leo looked furious with his eyes filled with anger and menace. Darren looked very focused and determined.
They were locked in the fight. Every time Leo tried to charge and bite him, Darren would swiftly avoid him and retaliate with fireballs. When the fireballs nearly caught Leo, he would roll or dash to dodge the attack while looking for another angle to attack.
"Stop fighting!" I shouted and ran towards them.
Darren was distracted by my voice and looked at me.
At that time, Leo captured the window of chance, dashed towards Darren, and bit his neck.
"No!!!" I screamed and pushed Darren away.
Leo saw me, but he couldn't stop. So he knocked me down with all his force and pinned me to the ground.
I felt a wave of tremendous pain coming from my lower abdomen.
I lowered my head and saw a spike of rock piercing through my body, with blood dripping down.
"Louisa!" Darren pushed Leo out of the way and dropped to his kneels next to me.
I knew he wanted to hold me, but he didn't dare to touch me.
"No... No... No... Louisa, stay with me. Look at me... Louisa... Stay with me..." Darren's words started to fade away. His face became blurry.
I wanted to tell him that I was fine, but the blood kept popping out of my mouth.
"You murderer! I shouldn't have trusted you! Werewolves are all murderers! You've killed her! You've killed my mother!" I heard Will's voice from a distance.
I'm not dead. I'm fine. I thought to myself.
I couldn't feel any pain and my whole body was once again embraced by the white light.
"It's you again, my little daughter." I heard my mother's voice.
"Mother..." I whispered.
"I've tried so hard to keep you alive, but it seems that you just can't wait to join me. My sweet, sweet little daughter. My Louisa. I understand. It must be very hard for you to live in a world inhabited by criminals and vice," my mother's voice sounded sad.
"Mother, I can't die," I said. "I can't die now."
"It's OK, Louisa. It's OK to give up. I love you so much to see you being hurt like this. You don't have to hang in there anymore. Take my hand and we'll stay together. No one will hurt you anymore. You'll be forever loved and cherished."
A hand stretched out of the white light. It looked so pale that it was almost as translucent and bright as the moonlight.
I felt instinctively drawn by the warmth of light. It was so compelling and irresistible, especially when I felt so cold and desperate.
I knew if I took my mother's hand, all my misery and misfortune would be put to an end. I would be embraced and protected by my mother for an ever-lasting eternity.
But I didn't take her hand.
"Come here, Louisa. Take my hand," my mother's voice said.
"Mother, I don't want to give up now," I said.
"My sweet Louisa, I know you want to join me. You've always wanted this," my mother's voice said.
"Mother, I used to yearn for death, but it was because I was alone. But now, everything is different. My life is no longer only about myself. I can't die. If I die, Lucas dies. Darren and Leo will be blamed. Lucian and Gianna will be heartbroken, and so will Colt and Alex. And what about Mr. Weasel and Snow? What about the Salamanders and the fishermen druids? Without me, who would be able to hear their voice when they get hurt?"
"Enough!" that voice shouted impatiently. "Take my hand!"
"Mother, why do you have only one hand? Where's the other?" I asked.
That voice started to get angry and violent, "You've asked too many stupid questions, Louisa! You're my daughter and you do whatever I tell you to do! Take my hand right now, Louisa! This is an order!"
"You're not my mother, aren't you?" I said. "My mother would never ask me to do things against my heart. It takes two hands for a mother to hold her child, but it only takes one hand to kill..."
"Stop! Stop talking nonsense!" the voice was furious.
"You aren't my mother," I continued. "You're death."
Suddenly, the white light shifted into complete darkness.
A hollow, cracky voice floated in the air, "You've recognized me. No one has ever recognized me. I easily tricked your mother long ago, but I guess you take after your father's wisdom."
"Stop talking about my parents like that. You have no right to judge anyone," I said.
"Yes, because death is always fair to everyone. So why bother? I take what I take, Louisa. That's just the way it is. Now it's your turn."
"It isn't my turn, or else you wouldn't want to trick me into taking your hand," I said with tears in my eyes. "It wasn't my mother's turn in the past, either, or else you wouldn't have tricked her. You've taken my mother's life even though she wasn't supposed to die. Why did you do it?!"
The voice laughed and screeched, "Louisa, for a smart girl, you ask very silly questions. Don't you understand? I was supposed to take away your life on that night when you were born, but your mother offered her life to me in order to trade for yours!"